A Comic’s Journey to Fatherhood
Marvin Davis, with his quick wit and reflective gaze, is a man who knows how to light up a room. An aspiring stand-up comic and a devoted single dad, he’s always ready with a joke. But when he speaks of his time at Fathers & Families Support Center (FFSC), his tone shifts, revealing a profound transformation.
“I was born in ’81, and I graduated FFSC with Class 81,” Marvin grins, the synchronicity clearly meaningful to him. “So it was like I was born again.”
Marvin’s journey to FFSC began with a friend’s keen observation. “He saw the hunger and the passion that I had for my son — and that I wanted to take it to the next level.” That desire led him to FFSC’s Family Formation, a six-week intensive program that reshaped his understanding of fatherhood.
The program taught him invaluable lessons: how to discipline with intention, how to forge a true friendship with his child, and crucially, how to talk “to” his son, not “at” him. Yet, the deepest impact was internal. “Most of all,” Marvin shares, “the program gave me a better look at myself” and allowed him “to be more caring and more loving”—not just with his son, but with other struggling fathers in the community.
That newfound empathy ignited a fire within him. “It just made me want to be more active, not only in my son’s life, but also with other people who don’t have their sons,” Marvin explains. “Looking at the condition in the community and looking at the men who are facing this problem, I tell them where I come from and where I am now. It makes a big difference.”
Since 2012, Marvin has proudly held full custody of his now 12-year-old son, Markel. They share a two-bedroom townhouse, building a life together rooted in the lessons learned.
When he’s not busy with his full-time job or creating memories with Markel, Marvin often returns to FFSC. He’s a familiar and welcome face, offering encouragement to the new cohorts of fathers. “I tell the guys to be encouraged, to be patient, don’t fight with the child’s mom, just do what you need to do to complete the program,” he advises, drawing from his own journey.
As a man who thrives on laughter, Marvin understands the profound strength of a positive mindset. “Have faith in God,” he says with a smile. “Just smile and be encouraged and take it one day at a time.”
Watch Marvin HERE on KSDK-5 with FFSC’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Reginald Slaughter!
